Naomi Checoury Taub
Naomi Checoury Taub (she/her) - Stanford in Oxford
Major: Human Biology (BS)
Minor: History
College year while abroad: Winter 2025-26
About the photo: I am on the left! Description: First Magdalen formal!
Contact
Email: naochec@stanford.edu
Why did you choose to study in Oxford?
I chose Oxford because it was the rare place where I could treat a personal curiosity as a legitimate subject of study. As a Human Biology major, I'd never had room to explore my Ea stern European family history. Oxford's tutorial system, built around primary-source-driven, one-on-one work with a specialist, let me step outside my STEM course load and build an entire term around Cold War Eastern Europe: authoritarianism, surveillance regimes, dissident identity. No other program offered that depth or the flexibility to pursue something so specific and personally meaningful. I wanted an academic environment that would push me intellectually while letting me finally investigate the history that shaped my own family, and Oxford was exactly that.
How did studying away support your academic growth?
Oxford completely reshaped how I approach learning and writing. Each week meant working through dense readings, jotting down ideas as I went, and slowly turning scattered notes into a coherent, analytical argument, then defending that argument out loud to a subject expert. With no lecture or study group to lean on, I learned to trust my own comprehension and reasoning. The rhythm of constant, direct feedback pushed me to sharpen my thinking quickly and treat criticism as fuel rather than something to avoid. That cycle of reading, writing, defending, and revising became a habit I still rely on in my academic work today.
What did you learn about yourself during your study away experience, especially through any challenges or major cultural adjustments?
With only about three hours of class a week, the rest of my time was entirely mine to structure: deciding when to read, when to write, when to let an idea sit, when to explore Oxford or go to London. Abroad shed light as to how capable I am of working autonomously. That freedom came with real discipline: I had to build my own rhythm for balancing dense reading against essay writing, week after week, especially while researching a subject that mattered to me personally. I came away trusting my own judgment and time management in a way I hadn't before.
Briefly describe a typical day and your favorite part of daily life in your program location.
On days without class, I would sleep in a bit, then grab a scone with clotted cream from Queens Lane with my roommate (the best in Oxford by the way:) Afternoons were for reading toward that week's tutorial, usually tucked into the top floor of the Radcliffe Camera. I'd often take a stroll around Jericho and grab a bite at Opera Cafe to break up the reading. My favorite part of the day was the evening: winding down at the Balliol College pub or King's Arms, a cohort favorite, catching up with friends after a day of independent work.
If applicable, how did participating in an internship, volunteership or experiential-based project help you grow professionally? What specific skills did you gain?
N/A.
What was the most essential item you took with you on the program?
Highlighters. Tutorial readings were long and dense, and color-coding them (themes, evidence, counterarguments) made it possible to actually retain and organize what I'd read before sitting down to write.
What advice would you give students who are considering studying away?
Be honest with yourself about how you actually work, not just what sounds prestigious. Oxford's tutorial system rewards students who are self-directed and comfortable defending original arguments alone; it's not for everyone, and that's fine to know going in. Also, chase what you're genuinely curious about, even if it's unrelated to your major; some of my most meaningful academic work came from finally giving space to a personal interest I'd never had room for. Last, go in expecting to be changed in ways you can't predict. My most significant growth wasn't academic content ; it was personal. Stay open to that unexpected register of learning; it's often where the real value of studying away lives!